The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-01-01
General Appraiser Combs Case.

her 10, 1886.
TO the President:
ST-In view of your repeated pub
lie utterances in favor of civil service
reform and the execution of the civil
service law according to the spirit
and letter. and Your declaration that
q public office is "public trust" any
suspension from a public Office, espec
tally upon the eve of the converting
Congress, without the cause therefor
heing assigned, naturally creates in
the public mind the impression that
the suspended officer was inc0mpe.
tent or cieant to his public trust.
Having earnestly endeavored dur
ing my two and half years of pub.
lie service as United States general
appraiser to discharge the duties of
my Office with diligence and fidelity
to the government and fairness and
impsrtiaIity to importers. l feel that
in Justice to myself and friends the
circumstances connected with my
suspension by you on the Goth ultimo
should be brought directly to your
attention, in the hope that you will
give me an explanation of the causes
and reasons therefor, which will ex.
Onerate me before the public from the
reflection on my character and fitness
for public trust, which summary sus-
pensions must create. My previous.
ly formed idea of your fairness and
high character leads me to the con-
clusiOn that you would not thus have
injured me, unless you have been
misinfOrmeu or misled with respect
to my services.
l may be pardoned. think, for the
following illusions to my public SER
vices, which are not made with
view to self.praise, but solely for the
purpose of acquainting you with all
the facts in the case.
l was appointed general appraiser
In July, 1884, by the late President
Arthur. with the advice and consent
of the Senate, to fill varancy caus-
ed by the death of the late John F.
Meredith, who had filled the Office
for over twenty years continuously.
| refer you to the recOi DIS of the Treas.
NY Department for proof of my ef-
ficiency and faithfulness. The many
spesial assignments to important and
delicate duties outside the district
which was under my immediate su.
pervision attest the cofidence of the
Secretary of the Treasury in my
competency and fidelity.
The district above referred to com.
prised all the ports on the Ohio and
Mississippi rivers from wheeling. w.
Va. TO New Orleans, La, on the
Mexican border, Gulf of Mexico. the
Atlantic coast from Florida to Balti-
more, and all interior ports within
these boundaries. Besides reviewing
the classification of all imported
merchandise entered within this dis
trict, as reported TO me monthly
from the several ports, was on the
9th of June, 1885. designated by
Secretary Manning chairman of a
special commission to investigate the
entry and appraisement of imported
merchandise at the ports of New
York, Boston. Philadelphia and Bal
timore, and was so engaged until DC
tober 80, 1885. The results of this
service were published in the report
of the Secretary of the Treasury to
Congress in 1885 on the collection of
duties. While not desiring to refer to
this service in detail, may, howev-
err, he permitted to state that as a
result of our recommendation an an.
nual saving of expenses to the gov
eminent of some 500. 900 was effected
at the pUrt of Boston alone.
In December. 1885. was instruct
ed to visit the ports on the Ohio Riv'
er. for the purpose Of constructing
newly appointed officers in the prop
er discharge of their duties"
In April 1886, I was ordered TO
Denver, COL, for the purpose of hear.
ing reappraisement case Of great
Importance to the government. and
of vital interest to the honest i'm.
porters of cigars in the United States.
That my action in this matter was
satisfactory. the reports to the Treas
ury Department of other officers en-
gagged in the case, and the common
datinn of such reputable firms in the
trade as Park & Tilford. Acker, Mer-
rail- & C0ndit, Purdy & Nicholas, and
many others abundantIy attest.
On May 80, 1886. shortly after my
return from Denver, was ordered
here to cooperate with General APP
praiser Brewer in hearing reappraise-
ments at this port, and was so en-
gagged until the date of my suspension.
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